Power Ranking Europe's Top 10 Clubs: Ulster Slip

The last salvos have been fired for 2013 with a few big French guns failing.

Toulon, Toulouse and Castres all lost in the last action of 2013 in the Top 14, while England’s big hitters all recorded healthy wins, as did Munster and Leinster.

With the Heineken Cup’s last pool-stage matches looming early in the new year, each side still in with a shout of qualification will need to hit the ground running in 2014, which means there are plenty of players across the channel who need to pull their socks up.

10. (9) Castres, Top 14

They were undone by a late try from Alipate Raitini but also travelled with a weakened side as Brice Dulin and Rory Kockott sat out the match.

The side taking advantage of Castres and Toulouse’s slip-ups is Stade Francais, who may not be dining at Europe’s top table this season but are threatening to break into this top 10 with a run of form that sees them sitting second in the Top 14 as we head into 2014.

8. (5) Ulster, PRO12

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Ulster fell to champions Leinster and have a tough task on their hands with the visit of Munster on Friday.

They have sunk to fifth in the table and now languish 10 points off the leaders, so they will need to throw everything at the men from Limerick in the first game of the new year if they don’t want to leave themselves a mountain to climb in 2014.

5. (6) Leinster, PRO12

Leinster leapfrog Ulster after beating the Red Hand Gang 19-6 at home to claim second place in the table.

A single try from No. 8 Jordi Murphy and 14 points from Jimmy Gopperth saw Leinster home, but their win was marred by a suspected dislocated shoulder for Ireland talisman Sean O’Brien in the second half.

2. (2) Saracens, Premiership

Sarries earned maximum reward from their trip to Sixways with a four-try, 8-26 win over bottom club Worcester.

With Northampton and Leicester both racking up high-scoring wins, it was important for Mark McCall’s men to make the most of the Warriors’ plight.

They did so with tries from Schalk Brits, Alex Goode, Charlie Hodgson and David Strettle. Sarries start the new year with a tough trip to Kingsholm to face a Gloucester side buoyed by an away win over London Irish.